A side-by-side comparison of Hamilton Enhanced Canadian Bank ETF (HCAL) and Evolve Canadian Banks and Lifecos Enhanced Yield Index Fund (BANK) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
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1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | HCAL | BANK |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +21.00%✓ | +10.61% |
| 1-Day Change | +2.28%✓ | +1.99% |
| 1-Week Change | -1.73% | -1.42%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | +5.22%✓ | +4.07% |
| Current Price | $44.36 | $10.74 |
| AUM | $969M | $1.07B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0%✓ | 60% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.65% | 13.31%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Inception Date | 2020-10-14 | 2022-02-01 |
| Holdings Count | 1 | 9 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Alternative Equity Focused | Alternative Equity Focused |
| Beta | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $45.54 | $10.87 |
| 52-Week Low | $24.79 | $6.83 |
| 50-Day MA | $40.92 | $10.12 |
| 200-Day MA | $36.00 | $9.45 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | HCAL | BANK |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +21.00%✓ | +10.61% |
| 1 Year | +78.35%✓ | +54.58% |
| 3 Year | +39.79%✓ | +32.75% |
| 5 Year | +20.88% | — |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 17.00% | 13.18% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.65 | 1.71 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | HEB | Hamilton Canadian Bank Equal-Weight Index ETF | 123.71% |
| 1 | NA | National Bank of Canada | 13.69% |
| 2 | CM | Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce | 12.89% |
| 3 | GWO | Great-West Lifeco Inc. | 12.64% |
| 4 | POW | Power Corporation Of Canada | 12.62% |
| 5 | TD | Toronto Dominion Bank | 12.38% |
| 6 | SLF | Sun Life Financial Inc. | 12.21% |
| 7 | BMO | Bank of Montreal | 11.98% |
| 8 | RY | Royal Bank of Canada | 11.68% |
| 9 | MFC | Manulife Financial Corp | 11.40% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | HCAL | BANK |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Communication Services | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Financial Services | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Healthcare | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Industrials | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Real Estate | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Utilities | 0.00% | 0.00% |
About HCAL
HCAL is designed to track 1.25x the returns of the Solactive Equal Weight Canada Banks Index, investing in Canadian banks — using modest 25% cash leverage. HCAL does not use derivatives.
About BANK
NA
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both HCAL and BANK are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, BANK scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HCAL and BANK?
HCAL (Hamilton Enhanced Canadian Bank ETF) and BANK (Evolve Canadian Banks and Lifecos Enhanced Yield Index Fund) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($969M vs $1.07B), dividend yield (3.65% vs 13.31%), and year-to-date performance (+21.00% vs +10.61%).
Is HCAL better than BANK?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, HCAL has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy HCAL and BANK on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both HCAL and BANK should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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